5. Senator John Cornyn Year Elected- 2002, Number of Terms- 2 nd 6 year term, Year of Reelection- 2008, Political Work- Bolstering national defense, repairing broken immigration, securing borders, boosting more affordable health care, improving education. Home State/ Flag- Texas Extra Info: Member of a fraternity ( Chi Delta Tau). Texas attorney general.
6. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison Year Elected- 1993, Number of Terms- 2 Terms, Year of Reelection- 2006, Political Work- Defense and foreign policy, homeland security, tax relief and family support, Education and science, Limited plain planes, Home State/ Flag- Texas Extra Info: She has had two husbands, two adopted children, and two stepdaughters.
7. Representative Joe Barton 6 th District- 830 Representatives Year Elected- 1984, Number Of Terms- 2, Year of Reelection- 2004, Political Work- Energy policy, helps protect individual right, Home State/ Flag- Texas. Extra Info: Attended Texas A&M University
9. President Of Senate Joe Biden Number of Terms- 6, Year of reelection- 1978,1984,1990, 1996, 2002, 2008, Political Work- Foreign relations, committee on the Judiciary , Home State/ Flag- Delaware Extra Info: Great grandpa was a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate. He was the first of four siblings.
10. Pres. Pro Tempore Robert C. Byrd Year Elected- 2006, Number of terms- 20,775 days, Year of Reelection- 2008, Political work- effort to increase transparency and accountability within the legislative proce ss, Energy and water development, Homeland Security, Transportation and Housing and Urban Development, Home State/Flag- West Virginia Extra Info: Original name is Cornelius Calvin Sale Jr. His mother died when he was one.
11. Majority Leader Minority Leader Harry Reid Year Elected- 1986, Number of terms- 4, Year of Reelection- 2004, Political Work- Trying to end foreclosure crisis in Nevada, Created the Great Basin National Park, Home State/ Flag- Nevada Extra Info: Played football and was an amateur boxer. Mitch McConnell Year Elected - 1984, Number of Terms- 8, Reelection- 2008, Political Work- senior member of the Appropriations, Agriculture and Rules Committee. Extra Info: He omits his Alabama birth place, Member Phi Kappa Tau fraternity.
12. Asst Majority Whip Richard Durbin Year Elected -1996, Number of Terms -3, Reelection - 2006, Political Work - House author of the banning of smoking on airplanes, Awarded the lifetime Achievement Award by the American Lung Association, Home State/ Flag - Illinois Extra Info: Irish American father and Lithuanian Mother. Asst. Minority Whip Jon Kyl Year Elected - 1995, Number of terms - 7, Reelection-2008, Political Work - Helped write the landmark crime victims Rights Act, Provisions of the Patriot Act. Home State/ Flag - Nebraska. Extra Info: Father served as an Iowa congressman. Attended University of Arizona. Has two kids and four grandkids.
14. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi Year Elected - 1987, Number of terms - 10, Reelection -2006, Political Work - House Appropriations committee, Housing Opportunities for people with AIDS, House Permanent Select Committee. Home State -Maryland Extra Info-Board member of the National Organization of Italian American Women. 5 children, 2001 elected House Minority Whip.
15. Minority Leader John Boehner Year Elected - 1990, Number of Terms - 10, Reelected -1995, Political Work - Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Home State/Flag - Ohio. Extra Info: Graduated from Moeller High School, one of 12 Brothers and Sisters.
16. Minority Whip Jim Clyburn Year Elected- 1992, Number of terms- 5, Reelection- 2006, Political Work- Human Affairs commissioner, Chair of the congressional Black Caucus, Home State- South Carolina Extra Info: Attended University of South Carolina Law School, Director of Neighborhood Youth Corps.
17. Majority Leader Steny Hoyer Year Elected- 1981, Number of terms- 8, Reelection- 2006, Political Work- Federal Employee Pay Comparability Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, Home State/ Flag- Maryland Extra- University of Maryland, Law degree from Georgetown University Law Center.